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Hp'l . 4 .'"',,. THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, t TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, '1892. " ' t ' -rt(T
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Vl!?j JOlpAJiUMJ
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1?
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riTTSBIjnC. TUESDAY. JANUARYS!.
TWELVE PAGES
CITY ASSESSMENTS AND TAXES.
Commentins upon the increase of valu
ations, The DisPATcn has urged, as the
only practical way of cnsurinR that it .do
notincrcasc the tax-draft upon citizens'
pockets, voters insist upon pledges from
Councilmen to reduce the millage in pro
portion as the agcrrcgate of valuation may
be increased. Our cotemporary, the
Leader, which, while honest in its pur
poses, is sometimes inaccurate in its per
ceptions and hasty in its conclusions, is
not satisfied with this. It thinks nothing
can he had by pledging Councilmeu and
Councilmanic candidates now.and that in
discriminate berating of the Assessors will
best check the tendency to municipal ex
travagance. If our cotemporary can point out any
better plan than TnE Dispatch urges
that of limiting the appropriations
to last year's schedule, and insisting
upon reducing the millage by as much as
the aggregate of valuation is larger than
last year's aggregate we will be glad to
accept and push the amendment. But it
is hardly necessary to say that it is in
Councils the spending power lies; that by
them, if at all, retrenchment must be con
sidered; and that unless public opinion is
brought to bear upon Councils, upon can
didates and setting Councilmen the most
immediate and effective means of keep
ing down the taxes is lost sight of. In
short, it is the function of Councils to say
what the gross sum of city expenditures
is to be; and the function of the Assessors
is simply the distribution ot this burden
upon individual taxpayers according to
the value of their holdings. Suppose
Councils increase the appropriations will
not the taxpayers have to put their hands
In their pockets to meet the increase, re
gardless of the general scaje of the val
uations? Extravagant, unnecessary and wasteful
expenditures must be fought. Items must
be scrutinized and a limit set to city ex
penditures. This implies immediate com
munication by taxpayers with their sit
ting Councilman and with Councilmanic
candidates. To do this does not imply
neglect of exorbitant valuations. While
pointing out, as justice required, the fact
that hitherto valuations have often been
very much under in place of over "cash
values," and that the Assessors are not to
be blamed so far as they go honestly ac
cording to their lights in determining
"cash values," The Dispatch has by no
m eans approved th eir udgment in all cases.
It lias pointed out that they have erred
undoubtedly in a great number of cases in
assuming too high general values in a
neighborhood from special sales governed
by special motives, and that they make a
great mistake in assuming that all the res
idence property and vacant ground in the
rural wards could be put upon the market
and sold at the prices that at
intervals are paid for occasional lots.
All "this will have to be corrected;
and if it is not corrected it is the
duty which every taxpayer owes to his
pocket and to his sense of equity to carry
his appeal to the courts. But it is no less
the duty of the Assessors to raise manifest
under-valuations when they meet such
upon their books, and of these there have
been many.
Essential as it is for every one who feels
that he is imposed upon by an assessment
above "cash value" to resist to the end, it
is still more important to bring public
opinion to bear upon Council"; to keep
down the city expenses. Xow is the op
portunity, when the city elections are so
close at hand and when men who refuse
to pledge themselves can be rejected at
the polls. As the taxes fall in the end
upon the people who do the voting not
merely upon the real estate owner it is
precisely the business of those who intend
to go to the polls to take pains to know
beforehand whether they are or are not
voting for an increased burden on them
selves next year.
In short, it is only by vigorous insist
ence upon a reduction of millage corre
sponding to the increase of valuations
that any increase of valuation can be de
prived of its stin?. But in doing this it by
no means follows that every raise of valu
ation which has been made by the Asses
sors is unjust. There are many cases of
over-valuation we feel assured; but it
would also doubtless be found that pre
viously there were very many more cases
of under-valuation. The over-valuations
can and shonld be brought t3 court if the
Assessors do not on revision give relief.
Meanwhile the more imperative duty of
looking after the appropriations by Coun
cils presses for attention.
THE STRIKE DISTURBANCE.
The proclamation of the Sheriff of the
county in the matter of the passenger
railway strike in Allegheny brings the
demonstration over there directly within
the vigilance and pale of the law. Every
one should understand 'the. line at which
manifestations of sympathy, which are
lawful, end, and manifestations of disor
der, violence and riot, which are unlaw
ful, begin. It needs no exposition of the
statutes to convey this perception to the
most ordinary mind. But it will be well
to remember that between expressing dis
approval of the policy of a railway corpor
al on, and breaking the peace of the State
tbire is a momentous difference, attended
by serious results to those concerned.
On behalf of the best interests of labor,
violence in connection with strikes is
always to be deplored and in unmistaka
ble terms condemned. With a serious
breaking of the peace public sympathy, no
matter how strong previously, is neces
sarily alienated or paralyzed It is to be
hoped that all interested will take to mind
the responsibilities of the situation; that
neither bad feeling nor bad counsel will
prompt any violation of the now pro
claimed law, whose decrees must be res
pected at all hazard of temper or interest
It serins necessary to call attention to
this phase of the case rather more in
respect to the crowds which gather in Al
legheny to express sympathy for tbe
strikers than in regard to the strikers
themselves. It is usually the sympa
thizers who overstep the. law: and most
generally they and the cause they sympa
thize with are they sufferers in conse
quence. THE QUESTION OF WAR,
The President has sent in his message to
Congress, which amounts to a practical
declaration of his position on the war plat
form. This is shown not only by the
tenor of the text, but in the very fact of
its having been sent; n message on the sub
ject having been foreshadowed as to come
only if it were deemed necessary to ask
for the action of Concrcss, and the only
positive action which Congress can take in
the matter is a declaration of war.
The considerations advanced by the
President as requiring the nation to take
tliis grave step can be more fully learned
by reading his message than by a siimmary
here. 'With some of his positions there is
little fault to find, but as a means of
judging the final correctness of the result,
it is well to study the whole history of the
case. The documents accompanying the
message, it must be remembered, give
only the side of the case presented by rep
resentatives of the United States who
have already been shown to have sup
pressed and misrepresented important
factors in the chain of events; but even
thates parte statement does not conceal
some important facts. To begin at the
beginning, it is shown that during tho war
for representative government, Mr. Egan,
in the language of the telegraphic sum
mary, "had an abiding faith in the ulti
mate triumph of Balmaceda over his ene
mies" and the downfall of the insurgent
cause; Admiral McCann declared that
"Balmaceda is the master of the situa
tion;" and on June 32, while negotiating
with Senor Errazuriz, the Congressionalist
leader, artlessly aided the mediatory nego
tiation by telling tho Congressionalists
that "the Government at Santiago cannot
be disturbed." After these displays by
the representatives of the United States,
is it any wonder that the Congressionalists
took the opportunity to show that the
Government at Santiago could be dis
turbed, and did not entertain especially
friendly sentiments to the United States?
This unfriendly feeling on the part of
the populace undoubtedly produced the
Valparaiso riot Whether tho c onflict be
tween the sailors and the mob involved
the Chilean Government to any " degree
depends on whether the police suppressed
tire riot or took part in it On this ques
tion there is an issue of fact One con
clusion is expressed as the result of the
investJcation of the Chilean courts; an
other as the result of naval investigations.
Both are to a certain degree es parte; but
both sides were represented in the Chilean
courts, and moreover that method of set
tling the question is exactly what was
laid down as a rule of international -law
by the United States in the New Orleans
affair, namely, that the trial of the case
must be according to the constitutional
forms of the country where the disturb
ance took place. While there have been
attempts to suppress the fact, it is a vital
share of the controversy that tli9 Chilean
Government, while disclaiming respon
sibility, have from the first promised full
investigation and punishment of the guilty
parties, and have already carried that
pledge nearer fulfillment than our Govern
ment was ever able to do in the case of
its own mobs.
Under these circumstances the Chilean
Government has formally rendered to tho
United States Government tho following
expression of feeling:
I have, also received special instructions
to state to tho Government of the United
States that the Government of Chile has
feltery sincere regret for the unfortunate
events which occurred in Valparaiso on the
10th of October. Although incidents of this
nature are not rare in ports frequented by
sailors of various nationalities, the fact that
deaths and wounds were caused in this dis
turbance, the zeal with which the Chilean
authorities are accustomed to watoh over
the personal seenritr of nil who tread its
territory, the fact that persons employed in
the service of a friendly nation were con
cerned, the frank desire for American cor
diality which ray Government entertains,
have led it to cordially deplore the afore
said disturbance and to do everything in Its
power toward the trial and punishment of
the guilty parties.
It is for Congress to decide whether,
after this declaration of "sincere resnret"
and the renewal of the pledge for "the trial
and punishment of the guilty parties," it
is becoming for a great nation to insist on
making war against a small one, because
it wants the more abject terms used.
Wc cannot but regard the President's
criticism of this language as inspired by
the feeling that we must have war with
Chile, in order to cover the blunders of
our Government which caused the incep
tion of the ill-fcellng. The attitude of tho
Chilean Government indicates that a little
toleration and conciliation would win
from it an even more positive disavowal
of the riot.
The decision of Congress will doubtless
be made in a few days. It is to be
hoped that it will decide against going
into a costly and, at best, inglorious war,
on mere question of language.
If the people of this country are once
satisfied that Chile will not make full
reparation for any wrongs or insult to our
Government or to our representatives of
any grade, there will be a unanimous ex
pression for war; and in any event, if war
is declared, there will.be but one feeling
but meantime there are enough features
of the case to warrant Congress in making
quite sure it is right before going ahead.
THE WAR r ARTY'S LEADER.
It is pleasant to know that the new po
litical forces which have been howling for
war, have got a leader. Mr. John L. Sul
ivan has declared himself, and is now a
leader of the Jingoes. Mr. Sullivan's
platform Is built on the lines of the
average Jingo 'editorial, and assert? that
"them Chileans has done us enough dirt,
and ought to be wiped off the face of the
earth, see!"
This reinforcement to the ranks of the
war party will be a powerful factor, not
only because of the large intelligent con
stituency which Sullivan represents, but
because it is a distinct accession to the
fighting power of the party. Outside of
the naval contingent' which hungers for
promotion and prize-money there has
been a dreadful suspicion that the most
bloodthirsty members of the war party
were those who expect other men to do
the fighting. Mr. Sullivan's character as
a warrior will lend dignity to- the bel
ligerent cause and protect it from the
above accusation at least within Sulli
van's hearing.
There have been intimations that the
distinguished slugger was, going Into poli
tics and intended to run for Congress.
But with this exhibition of his ability to
grasp the salient points of an international
issue, the least that the war party can do
is to nominate him for President.
nOW TO BEAT THE1I.
In a suit going on between two stars of
the first and perhaps the third magnitude,
in the planetary system of stock manipula
tion, Mr. John W. Mackayand Mr. Edwin
S. Stokes, an important principle was in
troduced in the evidence. A letter was
produced written. by the bonanza king in
which he gave the sage advice to Stokes
that "the only way to beat Jay Gould is to
leave him alone."
The advice was intended to apply di
rectly to Wall street operators, but it lias
an equal value for the general public.
The .only sure way to beat tacticians of
the Gould stamp is to let them alone.
Gould's success in amassing unnumbered
millions has been due to the fact that he
could always find victims who imagined
that they could play successfully at the
game of Wall street wUh the other side
holding the loaded dice. When the pub
lic makes up its mind to let Gould and all
his so-called securities severely alone, Mr.
Gould's game asa Wall street manipulator
will be completely beaten.
The rule applies to others than Gould.
Wherever there is a corporation stock, or
the certificates of a combination of cor
porations, under the control of one or a
clique of operators, the only way to get
the better of them is indicated by Mack
ay's apothegm. Wc violate no confidence
in the assertion that- the outsiders who
thought they could bet successfully on
mining stocks in the days when John W.
Mackay and his partners ruled the Vir
ginia City bonanza found themselves at
the end with a large stock of experience
and with the money in tho hands of the
bonanza quadrilateral.
Mr. Mackay's rule is indisputable; but
the most convincing demonstration of it is
the manner in which the fleecing of the
lambs has been carried on until there" are
no more left to support Wall street with
their innocence.
THE INTERNATIONAL PROPOSITION.
There is no possible objection to the
proposition to invite the European Gov
ernments to a needed conference on the
silver question. Although there is little
chance of the invitation being accepted it
is properly within the policy of the United
States to frequently intimate to Europe
that this country is ready to join in an
international conference for the purpose
of restoring the monetary function to
silver.
The great mass of the people of the
United States believe that silver should be
used as'money. The legislation of the
Government is based on that conviction,
and while there is the widest possible dif
ference of opinion as to the basis on which
silver coinaee should rest, it is an attitude
which we can well adopt as a nation that
we are in favor of an international agree
ment to restore silver on a conservative
and stable basis.
But to entertain the idea of a ratio of
15)4 to 1 as between silver and gold when
the ratio of bullion value is over 20 to 1 is
simply to condemn the project in its incep
tion. If the United States wouldpropose a
conference for the rehabilitation of silver
on the basis of actual bullion value it would
make a strong appeal to the solid sense of
the European bimctallists.
It should be clearly understood that true
patriotism does not involve the moral sup
port of one's country against one's sense of
Justice. Were it not for the many state
ments which have recently appeared to the
contrary, it would bo platitudinarian to as
sert that neither patriotism nor any other
feeling shonld invalidate tho dictum of the
individual conscience. It is patriotic to
make private opinion give way to an unquali
fied support of any national cause to which
tho Government is irrevocably committed,
but it is no Jess patriotic before such a posl-
tion lias been reached to agitate for a decis
ion which accords with one's own feeling of
right.
Mk. Cbokek has made his debut as hu
morous writer. In his article on Tammany
in theXbrth American Reviewhe not only says
that institution is devoted to "correct prin
ciples and publin usefulness," but he also
states that New York streets are clean.
Benjamin Harrison is often known as
tho little man with tho big hat, but he never
before so clearly demonstrated that a
swelled bead necessitated an abnormally
large covering.
A noticeable feature ot the Chilean
controversy in tbe impetus that has been
given to the study of South American geog
raphy. The statement that Mr. Hill will use tbe
majority that be is going to secure of the
New York delegation in his own interest or
in opposition to Mr. Cleveland is some
what redundant in its form of expression.
Opposition to Cleveland is in Hill's inter
est and Hill's interests are confessedly in
compatible with Cleveland's.
However many enemies he may make,
there are two things of which no man can
acense Sockless Jerry Simpson. He is not a
fop, and be has no lack of a flow of language
that is unique for its picturesqueness.
The whistle-blowing and general noisy
symptoms prevalent at the Ohio's departure
from Philadelphia were as nothing to the
rowdyism displayed of late in many news
papers. This country and Chile have gotten into
a pretty pickle between them. But then
Chile is always associated with pickles.
It was once remarked of an Englishman
of prominence that "what time he can spare
from the adornment of his persoi he devotes
to the neglect of his duty." To suit Ameri
can politicians this might be paraphrased.
What time they can spare from the lining of
their own pockots they devote to the neglect
of their duties to tbe Nation.
If Chile stubbornly refuses to do its duty
And draws Undo Sam's fire, Italy may tato
it into its head to get oven with us for that
New Orleans unpleasantness, and then
well, it will be more interesting. (
Some Chileans, at all events, give every
evidence of pacific inclinations since tho
site for the Chilean bulldinz at tho World's
Fair was approved yesterday.
War and rumors of war, and mud and
rumors of more mud, are respectively the na
tional and local topics at present.
The song which has found a leading
place In the President's second term reper
toire is "We don't want to fight, but, by
Jingo, if we do," whilo Chile's treble warb
ling "Call him back again," is hardly heard
at this distance in the din of warlike
preparation.
It is a remarkable coincidence that in an
exact proportion to tile increase ofmud on
the rods is tho wonderful precision with
which the street cars are carried just bo
yond tho less muddy crossings.
The only thing that ha? been lowered
since the Assessors finished their work is
the esteem in which those officials have
been held by the taxpayers.
Outsiders who have any doubts about
our patriotism are referred to the news in
this issue of The Dispatch.--
SNIFFING THE BATTLE.
Large Crowds Gather In tho Chambers of
Congress to Listen to the President's
Message Applanso Follows Its Kcadfcn;
in Both Branches Irrespective or Party
Animated Scenes.
Washington, D. C, Jan. 25. It was
evident at the Senate end ot the Capitol to
day that a large number of American citi
zens had come to the conclusion that they
could "snitTthe battle from afar." A great
many people felt convinced that war with
Chllo was Immlnent.so they crowded info the
galleries some time before tho Senate assem
bled. There was little interest taken in the
routine proceedings; everybody was wait
ing for the message, and no one would be
satisfied with anything less.
Some little attention was paid by the
ladles in the Democratic reserved gallery to
a magnificent floral tribute which adorned
the desk of Senator Gibson, of Maryland,
and a few strangers amused themselves by
guessing who tho various Senators were.
Bills were introduced and referred, commit
tees reported and other regular business
was attended to with that same calmness
which is ordinarily in circulation at the
northern end of tho big building, and which
distinguishes the proceedings of tho Senate
from the proceedings of the House.
Bntlness Gives Wbt to the Message.
Mr. Hoar, from the Committee on Privi
leges and Election?, made a report in the
case of Senator Chilton, of Texas, conclud
ing with the resolution that Jlr. Chilton is
entitled to hold his seat. He said he would
not nfc action unon it at tho present time.
At 12:10 o'clock Secretary Halford entered
the chamber, closely follwed by Secretay
I'ruden. Captain Basctt lost no time in
getting to the door, and then the regular
order was interrupted by Vice President
Morton's announcement that tho Senate
would receive a me'sage from tho House of
Representatives. He instantlv corrected
himself and said: "Tho President of the
United States."
It was but five minutes short of 1 o'clock
when the presentation of petitions for the
passage of tho Torrev bankruptcy bill or tho
closing of the World's Fair on the Loid's
day, came to3n end. Then the message was
formally laid befote the Senate, and a min
ute later Chief Clerk' Johnston started to read
the interestiug document. Ordinarily a Presi
dental communication attracts practically
no attention and its reading is the signal for
S-natorial disappearance to attend toother
duties. Things were diflerent to-day. Twenty-five
Democratic and 46 Kepnblican Sen
ators were in thfiiiseats when .the reading
commenced, and but one of them "moved;
that ono was Senator Sawyer.and he, that he
might hear more -distinctly, moved down
the center aisle and took possession of a
chair alongside Mr. Hayes, the veteran As
boclated Press reporter.
There was no break in the general atten
tion paid by Senators. Conversation was
not indulged in at any time, the Democrats
being evidently as much interested as the
RepuDlicans. 'No one seemed to regard the
matterunder consideration as being in any
sense political.
Syraratby for a Pallor.
Senators Manderson and Faulkner fol
lowed the reading, they having printed
copies of the message in their hands. Occa
sionally u Senator would be moved by a par
ticularly strong point, and would say a word
or two of assent to a neighbor. When men
tion was made of tbe fact that ono sailor
had been dragged along tho streets of Val
paraiso with a lasso around his neck, Sena
tor Vest gave involuntary utteiancu to a
sound which was easily construed Into an
expression of eympathy for the sailor and a
demonstration of an anti-Chilean nature.
Tho reading of the message (which is
printed in full elsewhere in this issue) was
concluded at 1:30, when Mr. Sherman, Chair
man of the Committee on Foreign dela
tions, rose and said: "I move, Mr. Presi
dent, that tho messaco and accompanying
documents be printed and referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations. In view
of tho gravity and importance of the subject
matter I do not think it expedient to make
any remarks."
The motion was agreed to, and 500 addi
tional conies were ordeied to be printed.
Mr. Turpie, from the Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections reported a resolution
in the caie of Senator Cali, of Florida, de
claring that Senator dulv elected and law
fully entitled to his seat. Placed on the
calendar.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
a communication from Chief Justice Fuller,
of tho Supreme Court, announcing the death
of Mr. Justice Bradlev last Friday, lle
inark in eulogy ot tho deceased Judge were
made by Mr. McPhcrson and Mr. Hoar, and
then, in token of respect for his memory,
the senate adjourned till to-morrow.
The 3Iessa;e In the Iloce.
At precisely noon to-day Speaker Cri6p
scended to the chair, and his colleagues,
without regard lo party, warmly greeted
him as ho resumed tho reigns of authority
laid down so long on account of sickness.
The Chaplain, in his prayer, feelingly al
luded to the death of Justice Bradley. After
the approval of the jonrnal and the trans
action of routine business a number of bills
were introduced and referred.
During the call of States, Mr. Pruden, one
of the President's secretaries.appeared at tho
door of the House and was announced by
the assistant doorkeeper. lie delivered tho
message or the Chief Executive relative to
the Chilean troubles, and the call having
been sniended, the message was immedi
ately laid before the House, The buzz of
conversation which usually pervades the
chamber was instantly hnshed. and every
member dropped the work upon which he
wns engaged and became an attentive
listener. The spectators in the gallerie.
too, evidently aunreclated the gravity of
the situation and there was none of that
noise which so frequently interrupts the
deliberations of the House.
The reading of the message occupied al
most an hour, and when it was concluded
there was a general round of applause,
which was more warm among the Republl
cans,but In which many Democrats earnestly
joined. Then on motion of Mr. Blount, of
Georgia, tho mesago and accompanying
documents wero ordered printed and re
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
After inrther routine business the House,
adjourned until to-morrow.
THE ORDER'S SIDE.
A Family Quarrel That Slay Be Settled by
Going to Law.
To the Editor of The DlsDatch:
In common with other Pittsburg papers,
your columns have recently contained tele
grams from Johnstown, Pa., referring to tho
arrest of J. A. Lyle, Secretary of the Order
of Ohio, on charges of obtaining money ou
false pretenses, said false pretenses cousti t
Ing of failure to loan money to certain mem
bers of the order. Whilo published in good
faith, these statements are entirely incor
rect and calculated to do the Order of Ohio
great injury.- It is a fratornal society, man.
aged by some of tbe best men In this city,
and is absolutely solvent, being able to pay
at any time every dollar collected from tho
membership and the accrued Interest.
The simple truth Is that sundry persons in
Johnstown demanded loans on bad security,
and, when refused, a.-ked that their assess
ments be retnrned. They were required to
remain in good standing one year, the rulo
of thejrder, and, in revenge, caused tho ar
rest of the representative. They will bo
prosecuted in due course for conspiracy.
Tbusteks, ORDKKOI1 Ohio.
East Liverpool, O., January 25.
PERTINENT PERSONALITIES.
The Czar of Russia never shaves.
Mrs. Eider Haggard has lately won
three prizes in golfing matches.
Senator G0RMAhas a habit of reading
in bed, no matter how hard a day's work he
has performed.
Mrs. Acgdsta Evans Wilson is about
to take a trip to Europe to search for new
facts for a novel.
James Loweie, who recently died, wove
the first American brussels, but he gave It
no distinctive name.
Bishop-elect Rev. Dr. Hoestman",
of Cleveland, has received the official notice
of his election from Borne.
Miss Olive Risley Seward, adopted
daughter of W.H. Seward, has become a
newspaper correspondent.
Colonel Sodfplot, once in the armies
of Napoleon, celebrated the 100th anniver
sary of his birth a few days ago.
Mark Trafton preaches to mankind
tho necessity for eating hearty breakfasts.
He says they are a good bulwark against
tate.
Judge Holman, who is over 70, has two
favorite expressions. One is, "Oh my, ray,"
and the other, "This will never do; no, it
will never do."V
Prop. Michelson, of Clark Univer
sity, is said to be very handsome and popu
lar. He has a project for using light waves
as a standard of measure.
JANUARY 26. "1892.
PENKSTLVAinA SHUT OUT
By Politics, From the Vacancy on tho V. S.
Supreme Court Bench.
Pbilaoelphia, Jan. 23. Special. A special
dispatch to the Times from Washington
'says:
While the Pennsylvantans in Washington
are disposed to mako an earnest eflbrt for
the appointment of ono of their jurists to
the vacant Judgeship in the Supremo Court
of the United States, there is little reason to
expect that they can be successful. Tho
Pennsylvanian most likely to be favorably
considered by the President, if tho appoint
ment could go to your State, would be Chief
Justice Paxson; but political considerations
forbid the appointment of any member of
your State Snpreme' Court, as that would
mako a vacancy there to bo filled by a Dem
ocrat. There is already one judge to be
elected next fall in Pennsylvania, and if an
other of your Supremo judges were trans
ferred to tho Snpremo Court of the United
States there would be two to elect, and the
peoplo under your Constitution conldvote
for but one. so that a Democrat wonld in
evitably fill the vacancy. The President is
too caiefiilly -studying good politics just
now to expose himself to criticism by giving
.the Democrats a Supreme Judge in Penn
sylvania, and it may be accepted as settled
that no members of your Supreme Court
can fill tho vacancy occasioned by the death
of Justice Bradley.
Thenamnof Jndge Wilson, of your Com
mon Tleas Court, has mbeon frequently dis
cussed as one of the possibilities to succeed
Justice Bradley in the Supreme Court of the
United States, but everything now points to
the rejection of Pennsylvania's claim en
tirely. Pennsylvania had the 'former Cir
cuit Judge of your district In Judge JIcKon
nan. who has been succeeded by Judge
Achcson, another "Pennsylvanian, and
George M. Dallas will soon bo confirmed as
Hie Judge of the new Apellate United States
Court for your district, so that Pennsyl
vania does not present any strong claim for
that position; but what is more important
than the claims of States Is the control of
delegates to the next National Convention.
President Harrison wants delegates, and ho
is going to have them if it is possible to ob
tain them by the use of his patronage, ludl
cial or political.
Harrison has nothing to expect from Penn
sylvania whatever, as Quay is entirely
master of the situation, and the delegation
will be against Harrison under any circum
stances. On tho other hand. Senator HIggins
could deliver Delaware six delegates if tho
Judgeship were given to Sprnance, and Gen
eral Sewell could see Senator Higgins and go
much better by giving him the Now Jersey
delegation. Sewell wants Judge Green, and
was grievously disappointed that Green was
not nominated instead of Dallas. This is
Sewell's opportunity to command the Judge
ship, and everything now points to the suc
cess of Jndgo Green. He may be appointed
direct to the Supreme Conrt of the United
States, or Jndge Acheson, of Pennsylvania,
may be transferred to that position and
Judge Green transferred to the Circuit
Conrt as Acheson's successor. Such seems
to be the situation of the jndseship in
Washington to-day, and it is not likely to be
changed in any way to improve the chances
of Pennsylvanlans, outside of tho bare possi
bility of Atcheson's transfer to make tho
place in the circuit for Green.
AN ELECTRICAL BOY.
TJe Amuses Himself by Shocking Every
thing Within His Heach. '
Kiowa, Kax., Jrfh. 25. George Harger, who
lives just south of this town, is the father of
a 6-year-old boy who is an electrical wonder.
The boy has been known as "peculiar" ever
since his birth, and those who nursed him
when an infant were wont to say that he
"made them nervous." His actions and
habits were those of all infants, and he has
never shown any mental Jraits different
from those usually seen in the average boy.
His parents and others who are intimately
connected with tho family, however, say
that there has always been something un
canny about him. Whenever the child was
taken up from the floor or bed a crackling
noise was heard and a slight shock and
pricking sensation wns felt, similar to that
lelt when a cat Is rubbed on a cold day.
The. bny can greatly increase the force of
the shock by rubbing his feet on the carpet,
and after dark the electrical discharge is so
strong that sparks are emitted when he
slides across the floor and touches a piece of
metal. The force qf the current seems to be
greatly increased for several d.iys before a
storm of any kind, and his father now de
clares that he can foretell evorv change In
the weather bv watching his boy. The Tittle
fellow amuses" himself by touching all tbe
doss and cats abont the place and the re
sult is that they all flee at his approach.
TALK OP THE TIMES.
Mr. Springer's leadership in the House
seems to be recognized only to the extent
that he is permitted to make the motions to
adjourn. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. In other
words, he hns been given the privilege of
shutting off some of the windy debates. It
is to be hoped that he knows exactly the
right time to mako his motions.
"Scarcity of water in Chicago" did not
scare Democrats a bit. Chicago Inter Ocean.
The scarcer the water the better they like it.
Ex-President Cleveland's Jeffersonian
leaning is based upon good ground. The
fishing nt the Jefferson place in Louisiana,
where he is now enjoying himself, is said to
be the finest In tho world. St. Louis Po3t-l5it-patch.
Grover's gone a hunting to get a
rabbit's paw, to kill the Hill hurrah.
The Mugwumps detest office holding.
They accept place merely to keep the spoils
men out. Washington Post. Butthev display
a hang-on-activenees that is not quite in ac
cordance with their professions.
One thing is certafn: If there is to be war
Chile won't have much of a navy by tho timo
we getthrough with her. New York Recorder.
No, but she may have a good one by tbe time
we are ready to commence.
There are two rival projects, both good,
for the Improvement of Castle Garden. yew
York Worta. Can't someone get up a project
to improve the immigrant too?
What has become of Gray, of Indiana, as a
Democratic Presidental quantity these days?
Toledo Blade. His boom has been mired
on some of the country roads of his native
State.
CARNEGIE CONTRADICTED.
A Hallrosd Superintendent Says theKoadt
Can Carry All His Armor Plate.
Xaw York, Jan. 55. Special. In regard to
an interview between Secretary Tracy and
Andiow Carnegie, at which the latter said
that the difficulty in getting armor in sueh
quantity as the Department desires is due to
tho inability of tho railroads to carry the
heavy burdens in the time expected, and not
to tho incapacity of the Carnegie plant.
General Superintendent Voorhees, of the
Now York Central Ballroad, said to-day:
"That is strange. We can carry any num
ber of plates, or anything else, provided tho
weight does not exceed 60.000 pounds, or 30
tons. In case there is an excess of this, spe
cial cars havo to be built, and then there
would be delay on the part of the railroads,
and thev would be to blame for delay in fin
ishing tho now monitor Monterey."
THE. FARKEE3BUHG L0TTSRY CA8ES
Come Up Before the Federal Conrt at New
Orleans, and Kail is Given.
Niw Oelkans, Jan. 23. This morning the
lottery oases were again called up before the
United States Court on tho Parkersburg, W.
Va., indictment. It will bo remembered
that abont a month ago proceedings against
the lottery company's officer were sud
denly suspendea while tho Indictments
were under consideration.
This morning the gentlemen appeared be
fore Judtre Billings and agreed to give bond
for their appearanoe in Parkersburg at the
next term of court there. Later in the day
all the parties included in the indictment
gave bail for thoir appearance.
She Is Equal In Some Itcspects.
Chicago Time;.
Three women were hanged in different,
States of this enlightened Union last week.
Though woman is denied the ballot, her
privileges in some respects are identlcalv
nitu buuso ui iuuu.
HALF AND HALF.
Dirty Street Cars Canse a Decided Change
In the Visiting Costumes d Eadies A
Gay Basque and a. Dismal Skirt He
view of a Day's Erents.
It is said that New York dressmakers are
becoming agitated over the general dreari
ness in which Pittsburg women now insist
upon clothing themselves. There was a day
when Pittsburgers were the best customers
tho metropolitan modiste possessed. They
liked nice things, could buy nice things and
did buy nice things. But the I had nearly
said natural sas, ono gets so accustomed to
kick in one direction cable car and electric
car system has so threaded the town
that private turnouts are almost en
tirely gone out of fashion. Even for
afternoon affairs street cars have to be pat
ronized, and ono knows that street cars do
not encourage the wearing of daintily col
ored dothc3. Consequently dark or spoiled
drosses are de rigeur, and since the first state
is preferable to the second, the reign of drab
nnd Bad-colored garments has begnn, and
tho social world seems to have donned
something like widow's weeds for the days
that are not, long befoie the present system
of transit was born or thought of. 'What
remains of former splendor are tho hand
some basques; whicn are as pretty as ever,
and indeed are becomins even more ciy
as the skirt gets the more demur. This state
ornffatrs, was particularly noticeable at Miss
Tindle's house on Friday afternoon. A great
manv young ladies had dropped into the
mission tea on tho way home from after
noon functions, and nearly every one was
observable as wearing a fancy waist with a
plain street skirt, ir tho street cars do not
improve there will soon be an end to elegant
toilettes in Pittsburg excepting amours a
very few.
One feels disposed to pat Mr. William
Stead on tbe shoulder, if he would permit
approbation to take so familiar a form, on
account of a recent article in the Review of
Revieios on "Residential clubs for young men
and women." The Review describes both by
pen and pencil a Kennington Park mansion
in process of building for tho accommoda
tion of young men who are living in London,
aVay from their families. It is to be got up
in a stupendously comfortable plan, and also
In a more civilized one, since the bachelor
occupants are to be permitted to have
visit tbem their female as well as
male relatives. After a good bit
of warm commendation the article
naturally switches offlnto an Inquiry con
cerning tho unsatisfied needs of young
women. Some of it is worth quoting: "Gi"ls
need snch clubs far more than men. The
solitude that oppresses the young man is
absolutely nothing compared with tho lone
liness which a yonng girl feels in London or
New York, when she has no friends nor
home. We would not go across the street to
help establish a residential clnb for young
men if its promoters were not pledged to
follow It up at once by establishing
a similar institution for yonng women.
There are some homes for women
but they are strangled by absurd rules.
It is absurd to say "that young men may
come in at any hour of the night, but that
young women must be at home at 11 o'clock,
or be fined if they stay out after that
time. If she cannot be trusted with a latch
key neither can he.
"The ordinary objection." the article con
cludes, "of Mrs. Grundy, that if yoanc men
and young women are allowed to mix in
common rooms there will bo no end of love
making, flirtation and the like, may bo ad
mitted. Thcro will be, no d'mht, a great
deal of flirtation and lovcnnking. It would
be a sonr world In which there was nothing
of that kind of thing."
Wilt not the readers ofthLs confess that
these are capital days for tho sex- When
shocancarrva latch key, without losing
any of hermodesty: when she can keep late,
necessary hours without having her decency
questioned.
A GOOD story, and, at the same time, a
true one, is told about the hop at the Ken
mawron Saturday evening. By some mis
hap, which is not a pun, the misse wero
sadly deficient in number and the wall
flowers in consequence were all of the gen
tlemin species. Every youns lady was
beset with admirers and everyone drank
that cup of happiness, to be a successful
belle, to its very sweetest dregs. Fortunate
ly the gentlemen belnz trained to that
stoical calmne33 and indifference bloomed
so gorgeously along the walls of the hall
room that one was almost converted into
imagining that to be a wall flower was to
be a very fine flower Indeed,
The golden wedding of 3Ir. and Mrs. F.
W. HoIIenbeck. of the Southside. was spent
agreeably at their home last night. The
innes3 of the hostess debarred all othexs
from participating excepting members of
the familv and connections, a state of
things which was regretted both a to the
canse and consequence. Mr. and Mrs.
Hollenbeck are well known among the Ger
man residents of Pittsburg; thev are the
parents of Mrs. C. Bayer anil Mrs. Daniel
Goetz, the wife of Mr.Gootz of the clerical
force of tho Duquesne Club.
SoclaI,Cliattrr.
Rev. Dr. noDQES, rector of Calvary Epis
copal Church, lectured last night on "Life in
a Medieval Monastery," under the auspices
of tne East Liberty branch of tho Young
Men's Christian Association, of Pittsburc.
As Dr. Hodges cannot be other than inter
esting, it is almost .snperfluons to say that
the audience listened with most marked at
tention. The fourth and last but one of the series
of Mondav evening dnnces was given last
night at the Pittsburg Club Theater. The
patronesses were not larzely represented,
some havins been forced to withdraw on
account of mourning, but the dance was an
exceedingly enjoyable one.
Mrs. T. Lathkop, a noted temperance
speaker, has been engaged by the Women's
Christian Temperance Union of Wilklns
burgto dellvtr two lectures in that town
next Saturday and Sunday evenings.
The Women's Press Clnb will servo mid
night luncheon to tbe editorial and rcpor
torial staffs of the morning papers to-night
at the Fli st Methodist Protestant Church on
Fifth avenue.
Wedxesdat will bring with it the usual
fortnightly evening entertainment of the
Unitarian Church of Pittsburg, at Its place
of worship in the old University building.
Miss SnzKLOCK. of Cincinnati, who is vlslt
innMrs. J. M. Schoonmaker. Is being made
tho recipient of many social affairs in Pitts
burg. The Chautauqua Circle of Wilklnhurg
trOB entertained last night by Mr. S. K. Wills,
of Penn avenue, with music and readings.
The Epworth League of tho Wilklnsburg
M. E. Church will entertain its friends this
evening in Balston's Hall.
FAST ELECTRICAL TRAINS.
They Will Be Banning From St. Louis to
Chicago in a Short Time.
St. Louis, Jan. 25. A company has jnst
been incorporated in Springfield, lib, for
tho purpose" of building an electric road
from here to Chlcazo. Among those inter
ested are Governor Francis, Congressman S.
W. Cobb, John W. Harrison, I. G. VT. Stead
man, Web M. Samuel. E. s. Rowee, William
H. Thompson, President of the Bank of
Commerce; Dr. Wellington Adams, tbe in
ventor ot tho first successful electric motor,
an d John P. Kaiser. They represent several
million dollars. The company proposes to
build a double track road, as straight as an
arrow, without a curve to it. On this road
it is proposed to run electric cars, which
will travel at the rate of 100 miles an hour,
making the distance in two and one-half
hours, instead of eight as now. The power
station will be at Clinton, 111., whore the
company will operate its own coal mine
for fuel, using electric drills Tor mining ma
chinery. In time, the entire line is expected to be
come a boulevard, the farmers' houses
standing on city lota, while behind them
will stretch the wheat fields. The houses
will be lighted and heated bv electricity
and the reapers, mowcre and threshers will
be driven by chained lhihtning. An clcctrio
block system will be operated and the track
will be automatically illuminated a mile
ahead and a mile behind each car. Trains
-which are on the same section will have tel
ephone connection and communication may
be had whether the trains are moving or
standing still.
A WOMAN'S LAST Q00D TIME:
She Drinks a Gallon of Cider and a Lot of
Alcohol and Then Dies.
YoaKETis, N. Y., Jan. 25. SpeciaL This
morning Lizzie Shiler, a domestic employed
In the family of A. Radtke.Hving near Tuck
aboe, drank four quarts of hard cider and a
pint ahd a half ot alcohol from nn alcohol
stove. Sho then went on a rampage, and
Mr. Radtke, to prevent the entire destruc
tion of his household f nrnlture, paid her her
-wages and sent her to the railroad station in
charge of the coachman.
There she refused to get out, and the
coachman deoldcd to drive her to the police
station in Yonkers. When he arrived there
the woman was found to bo dead. Coroner
Mitchell held an luquist.
CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS.
The value of rolling stock iu the Unite
States is $1,500,000,000.
Tbe great Hemet dam at San Jacintc
Cal., Is the largest dam In the world.
Washington has 466 sawmills with
daily cutting capacity ors.42LOOO feet.
Between 1590 and 1680 3,400 wome
were burned in Scotland for witchcraft.
Tbe "Philosopher's Stone" was a sut
stance which theanclentalchemists though
wonld change all baser metals to pare gold
The highest railway in the world is thi
newAlplne road called the-BrenzIerRothorr
balm. It is 7,835 feet high at tbosumml
nnd is 223 feet higher than the Pilatus rail
way.
Coral was made use of by the Roman
as a protection against the evil eye, and por
ular superstition had credited the topa
with the power of depriving boiling wate
of its heat.
Brass wire for brushes used by silver
smiths and jewelers can be drawn to : 3-110
of an inch the diameter of a hai-. Th
holes in watch jewols are from 5-lft)0 ti
12-1000 of an inch. . .
Chloride of nitrogen is the most wonder
fnl, as well as the most powerful, explosin
known. For 77 years, from 1811 to 1SE. thi
secret of the composition of this terrlblo ex
plosive was a mystery.
A Japanese gentleman puts a box oat
sldo his door on New Year's Day, with this
inscription: "To visitors I am out. 1 wist
you a happy New Year. N. B Please pn
yonr presents Into the box."
San Diego bay is 13 miles long, with an
available anchorage of six square miles
The total area of the bay Is 21 square miles
the rise and fall of the tide is five feet, and
the depth of water over the bar at low tide
is 23 feet.
Leap year has always been regarded
with awe RDd superstition by the people o
all countries. The peasantry of England
affirm that pease and beans grow the wrons
way In their pods that Is, the seeds nro so
contrary to the way they are in ordlnar;
years.
The speed of the camel when on a jour
ney 'Of considerable length rarely exceed;
three miles an hour, and tho swiftest drome
daries are rarely known to go faster than a
ten mile sait, but this can be kept up for 2C
hours in the day and for six or seven days
at a time,
"When a little Patagonian is taken with
any of the long catalogue of infantile d!s
cases, which are equally as rampant in the
wilds of the Antipodes as thevaro among
the embryo Presidents and millionaires ol
the United States, a "devil exterminator" Is
sent for post-haste.
The most remarkable set of spoons in
Missouri are owned in Richmond. They
were made out of Mexican dollars by a tin
ner named Kaiser, the first of hi trade in
Fnlton. who also made tho first tin lamp In
Callaway county. The spoons, after 50 years
of use, are in excellent preservation.
The burrows which fiddler crabs live in
are nearly or quite vertical holes for a foot
or more In depth, after which they take a
horizontal turn, each ending in a chamber
where the occupant stays most of tho time
when not looking about for food. These
queer crustaceans are vegetable feeder.
It is a curious fact, and one scarcely
known outside of Russia (and tnere hardly
ever mentlonod), that the famons Orloffdia
mond was once tho right eye of the great
idol Serringham in the Temple of Brahma.
This precious gem was stolen at abont the
beginning of tbe eighteenth century by a
French soldier.
Everyone knows that it is not safe to
eat many peach kernels on account of the
larco percentage which they contain of that
most deadly of poisons, prussic acid. Al
monds also contain prussic acid, but tho
good kinds have been cultivated so as to
make tho percentage of the poison as small
as possible and their shells as thin as
may be.
The colors of flowers have been shown
by the researches of Sprengel, Fritz, Her
mann, Millor, Darwin, Lubbock and Wal
lace to be necessary (or, rather, to have be
come necessary) for the attraction of ccr
tain species of insects by which the pollen
mav be transferred from the stamens of one
I flower to tho pistils of another and cross-
fertilization effected.
Two kinds of boring sea snails supplied
in ancient timosthemost famous of all dyes,
known as Tyrian purple, whieh was consid
ered too SDlendid to be worn by any but
kings and nobles. One pound ofwool dyed
with It was worth $173, the process by which
It was extracted being very tedious, and six
pounds of dyo liquor beins required for
staining a pound or wool.
Many tribes of Indians, even at the
present day, bury their dead in hollow io:,
which are made to serve as coffins, instead
of putting them underground. Sometimes
trees are split for this purpose and the two
halves are hollowed out to receive tho body.
It Is known that tho ancient peoplo of Den
mark were accustomed to employ hollow
logs in like manner for mortuary purposes.
Prof. Brasdon, of Laselle Seminary, is
authority for theso facts: Since the opening
of the seminary In September up to date 42
j ounc women have gained 9 pounds or over:
3, 11 each: 2. 16: 1, 13; 1. 20; L 22. and tho record
breaker has gained 23 pounds in a little over
tour months. Tho featherweight of them
all weUihsSl pounds, the hcavlestplnmp 1G7.
and thoy are the healthiest set of girls in all
New England.
A most extraordinary guard takes up
its quarters inside the Bank of England
every evening at 7 o'clock all the year round,
remaining there until 7 o'cloolc the next
morning. Itls an officer's guard, and con
sists of a drummer, two sergeants nnd 30
men. all well armed. Each man receives
shilling from the bank authorities immedi
ately npon his arrival, a .reant's share be
ing two shillings. Tho ofllcer is allowed a.
suppor for two and three bottles of wine,and
Is permitted to invite a friend if he sees fit
to no so.
In some of the Malay Islands, the cocoa
nut is obtained in a curious manner. An
enormous crab is found there that lives on
the fruit, climbing the trees and tearing the
nuts off, either hurling them down, or break
ing them bv tearing off the husk and then
beating them against the rocks with Its
huge claws. The husk that the crabs take
from the fruit they carry to their holes at
tho foot of the trees and make a bed of it;
and, knowing this, tho Malays visit and rob
the crabs once or twice a year, using the
busks to weave into mats.
BLITHESOME TBIFLE3.
Adolphus I want you to know, Ethel,
that my fitter 1j well disposed toward me, and will
certainly (five me a good send-off.
Ethel That's Just what pa has given every soltor
of ralno that tie's found here after 10 r. Jl. Boston
Courier.
"When vapors rise and never pause,
Andmicrobes gather everywhere.
In minor sighs the breeze because
It is a melancholy air.
Wat lit nston Star.
"What would yon doif Igave youalittla
kitten?" asVed Tommy's neighbor,
"NothtnV replied Tommy: we've already got.
six at home." Harper's Yinmj People.
De Smythe (at the boarding house) I
ordered dinner an hour ago. and no sign of It ret.
I wooderwhat time it will be when I hare swal
lowed It?
BJones (old boarder) Not so very late. You see.
you make up for the length of the wait by the short
ness of tbe tax. Judge.
It did not take him long to think,
Because full well he knew
It was a waste of time to drink.
And waste of money, too.
With kindling eye and knitted brow
He manfully snore olf
The little that he's taking now
Isjusttocurehlscougb.
Seio Tort Press.
Mr, n -Rnllinn v.irelTm. I don't alto
gether like that yonng Snooper. I"Ih be dlda't
: i -. M..1 nv w-njctlnns?
come aero so oiien. niwncui ck ,
Miss De BulUon-I think he has. He says pP
rating In BmdstrecCt Is Al.-CAtoJ TWAiw. i
Customer So you have discharged the
new man? HewasaroodshaTer.
Barber-Yes; ho handled the wor wllh consider
ate flnesse. but bis shampoo rubs lacked technique.
-Puclc.-
"What shall I write, what shall it be,
A rondeau or sonnet?"
"I pray thee, wrlto a check." said she.
To pay for my new bonnet." ,.
Washington Slnr.
Japeth Mildred, will voube my -wife?
Mildred Well, not to-day.
Japth-On. Mildred, how can yoo, speak so
IllppanUy? --yif . ,
Mirdred-Fllppantly? Haw do yousoopoHJ
eould poistbly he your wife to-dsy? I should w.ni
at least two weeks to get ready la.-j!' '
ta '" ' ,V 1- is 'v'V ""H9"' ;---, "- a 'r ' . - tk Ffa' mi t " jr